In the name of God, the One, the Incomparable,
the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Praise be to God, the Eternal that perisheth not,
the Everlasting that declineth not, the Self-Subsisting
that altereth not. He it is Who is transcendent in
His sovereignty, Who is manifest through His signs,
and is hidden through His mysteries. He it is at
Whose bidding the standard of the Most Exalted
Word hath been lifted up in the world of creation,
and the banner of "He doeth whatsoever He willeth"
raised amidst all peoples. He it is Who hath revealed
His Cause for the guidance of His creatures, and sent
down His verses to demonstrate His Proof and His
Testimony, and embellished the preface of the Book
of Man with the ornament of utterance through His
saying: "The God of Mercy hath taught the &Qur'an,
hath created man, and taught him articulate speech."
No God is there but Him, the One, the Peerless, the
Powerful, the Mighty, the Beneficent.
The light that is shed from the heaven of bounty,
and the benediction that shineth from the dawning-place
of the will of God, the Lord of the Kingdom

+P2
of Names, rest upon Him Who is the Supreme Mediator,
the Most Exalted Pen, Him Whom God hath
made the Dawning-Place of His most excellent
names and the Dayspring of His most exalted attributes.
Through Him the light of unity hath shone
forth above the horizon of the world, and the law of
oneness hath been revealed amidst the nations, who,
with radiant faces, have turned towards the Supreme
Horizon, and acknowledged that which the Tongue
of Utterance hath spoken in the kingdom of His
knowledge: "Earth and heaven, glory and dominion,
are God's, the Omnipotent, the Almighty, the Lord
of grace abounding!"
Give ear, O distinguished divine, unto the voice of
this Wronged One. He verily, counselleth thee for
the sake of God, and exhorteth thee unto that which
will cause thee to draw nigh unto Him under all
conditions. He, in truth, is the All-Possessing, the
Exalted. Know thou that the ear of man hath been
created that it may hearken unto the Divine Voice
on this Day that hath been mentioned in all the Books,
Scriptures, and Tablets. Purify thou, first, thy soul
with the waters of renunciation, and adorn thine
head with the crown of the fear of God, and thy temple
with the ornament of reliance upon Him. Arise,
then, and, with thy face set towards the Most Great
House, the Spot round which, as decreed by the
Eternal King, all that dwell on earth must circle,
recite:

+P3
"O God, my God, and my Desire, and my Adored
One, and my Master, and my Mainstay, and my utmost
Hope, and my supreme Aspiration! Thou seest
me turning towards Thee, holding fast unto the cord
of Thy bounty, clinging to the hem of Thy generosity,
acknowledging the sanctity of Thy Self and
the purity of Thine Essence, and testifying to Thy
unity and Thy oneness. I bear witness that Thou
art the One, the Single, the Incomparable, the Ever-Abiding.
Thou didst not take unto Thyself a partner
in Thy dominion, nor didst Thou choose a peer for
Thyself upon earth. All created things have borne
witness unto that which the Tongue of Thy grandeur
hath testified ere their creation. Verily Thou art
God; there is none other God but Thee! From everlasting
Thou wast sanctified from the mention of
Thy servants, and exalted above the description of Thy
creatures. Thou beholdest, O Lord, the ignorant
seeking the ocean of Thy knowledge, the sore athirst
the living waters of Thine utterance, the abased the
tabernacle of Thy glory, the poor the treasury of Thy
riches, the suppliant the dawning-place of Thy wisdom,
the weak the source of Thy strength, the
wretched the heaven of Thy bounty, the dumb the
kingdom of Thy mention.
"I testify, O my God, and my King, that Thou hast
created me to remember Thee, to glorify Thee, and
to aid Thy Cause. And yet, I have aided Thine enemies,
who have broken Thy Covenant, who have cast

+P4
away Thy Book, disbelieved in Thee, and repudiated
Thy signs. Alas, alas, for my waywardness, and my
shame, and my sinfulness, and my wrong-doing that
have withheld me from the depths of the ocean of
Thy unity and from fathoming the sea of Thy mercy.
Wherefore, alas, alas! and again alas, alas! for my
wretchedness and the grievousness of my transgressions!
Thou didst call me into being, O my God, to
exalt Thy Word, and to manifest Thy Cause. My
heedlessness, however, hath deterred me and compassed
me about, in such wise that I have arisen to
blot out Thy signs, and to shed the blood of Thy
loved ones, and of the dawning-places of Thy signs,
and of the daysprings of Thy revelation, and of the
repositories of Thy mysteries.
"O Lord, my Lord! and again, O Lord, my Lord!
and yet again, O Lord, my Lord! I bear witness that
by reason of mine iniquity the fruits of the tree of
Thy justice have fallen, and through the fire of my
rebelliousness the hearts of such of Thy creatures as
enjoy near access to Thee were consumed, and the
souls of the sincere among Thy servants have melted.
O wretched, wretched that I am! O the cruelties,
the glaring cruelties, I inflicted! Woe is me, woe is
me, for my remoteness from Thee, and for my waywardness,
and mine ignorance, and my baseness, and
my repudiation of Thee, and my protests against
Thee! How many the days during which Thou didst
bid Thy servants and Thy loved ones to protect me,

+P5
whilst I commanded them to harm Thee and to harm
them that Thou didst trust! And how numerous the
nights during which Thou didst graciously remember
me, and didst show me Thy path, whilst I turned
away from Thee and from Thy signs! By Thy glory!
O Thou Who art the Hope of such as have acknowledged
Thy unity, and the Desire of the hearts of them
that are rid of all attachment to any save Thee! I
find no succorer except Thee, nor king, nor refuge,
nor haven besides Thyself. Alas, alas! My turning
away from Thee hath burnt up the veil of mine
integrity, and my denial of Thee hath rent asunder
the covering cast over mine honor. O would that I
were beneath the depths of the earth, so that my evil
deeds would remain unknown to Thy servants! Thou
seest the sinner, O my Lord, who hath turned towards
the dawning-place of Thy forgiveness and Thy
bounty, and the mountain of iniquity that hath
sought the heaven of Thy mercy and pardon. Alas,
alas! My mighty sins have prevented me from approaching
the court of Thy mercy, and my monstrous
deeds have caused me to stray far from the
sanctuary of Thy presence. Indeed, I am he that
hath failed in duty towards Thee, and hath broken
Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, and committed
that which hath made the dwellers of the cities of
Thy justice, and the dawning-places of Thy grace
in Thy realms, to lament. I testify, O my God, that
I have put away Thy commandments, and clung to

+P6
the dictates of my passions, and have cast away the
statutes of Thy Book, and seized the book of mine
own desire. O misery, misery! As mine iniquities
waxed greater and greater, Thy forbearance towards
me augmented, and as the fire of my rebelliousness
grew fiercer, the more did Thy forgiveness and Thy
grace seek to smother up its flame. By the power of
Thy might! O Thou Who art the desire of the world
and the Best-Beloved of the nations! Thy long-suffering
hath puffed me up, and Thy patience hath emboldened
me. Thou beholdest, O my God, the tears
that my shame hath caused to flow, and the sighs
which my heedlessness hath led me to utter. I
swear by the greatness of Thy majesty! I can find
for myself no habitation save beneath the shadow of
the court of Thy bounty, nor any refuge except
under the canopy of Thy mercy. Thou seest me in
the midst of a sea of despair and of hopelessness, after
Thou didst cause me to hear Thy words "Despair
not." By Thy power! My sore injustice hath severed
the cord of my hope, and my rebellion hath darkened
my face before the throne of Thy justice. Thou
beholdest, O my God, him who is as one dead fallen
at the door of Thy favor, ashamed to seek from the
hand of Thy loving-kindness the living waters of Thy
pardon. Thou hast given me a tongue wherewith to
remember and praise Thee, and yet it uttereth that
which hath caused the souls of such of Thy chosen
ones as are nigh unto Thee to melt, and the hearts of

+P7
the sincere amongst the dwellers of the habitations
of holiness to be consumed. Thou hast given me eyes
to witness Thy signs, and to behold Thy verses, and
to contemplate the revelations of Thine handiwork,
but I have rejected Thy will, and have committed
what hath caused the faithful among Thy creatures
and the detached amidst Thy servants to groan. Thou
hast given me ears that I may incline them unto Thy
praise and Thy celebration, and unto that which Thou
didst send down from the heaven of Thy bounty and
the firmament of Thy will. And yet, alas, alas, I
have forsaken Thy Cause, and have commanded Thy
servants to blaspheme against Thy trusted ones and
Thy loved ones, and have acted, before the throne of
Thy justice, in such wise that those that have recognized
Thy unity and are wholly devoted to Thee
among the dwellers of Thy realm mourned with a
sore lamentation. I know not, O my God, which
among my evildoings to mention before the billowing
ocean of Thy favor, nor which of my trespasses
to declare when face to face with the splendors of
the suns of Thy goodly gifts and bounties.
"I beseech Thee, this very moment, by the mysteries
of Thy Book, and by the things hid in Thy knowledge,
and by the pearls that lie concealed within the
shells of the ocean of Thy mercy, to reckon me among
such as Thou didst mention in Thy Book and describe
in Thy Tablets. Hast Thou decreed for me, O my
God, any joy after this tribulation, or any relief to

+P8
succeed this affliction, or any ease to follow this
trouble? Alas, alas! Thou hast ordained that every
pulpit be set apart for Thy mention, and for the
glorification of Thy Word, and the revelation of Thy
Cause, but I have ascended it to proclaim the violation
of Thy Covenant, and have spoken unto Thy
servants such words as have caused the dwellers of
the Tabernacles of Thy majesty and the denizens of
the Cities of Thy wisdom to lament. How often hast
Thou sent down the food of Thine utterance out of
the heaven of Thy bounty, and I denied it; and how
numerous the occasions on which Thou hast summoned
me to the soft flowing waters of Thy mercy,
and I have chosen to turn away therefrom, by reason
of my having followed my own wish and desire! By
Thy glory! I know not for which sin to beg Thy
forgiveness and implore Thy pardon, nor from which
of mine iniquities to turn aside unto the Court of Thy
bounteousness and the Sanctuary of Thy favor. Such
are my sins and trespasses that no man can number
them, nor pen describe them. I implore Thee, O Thou
that turnest darkness into light, and revealest Thy
mysteries on the Sinai of Thy Revelation, to aid me,
at all times, to put my trust in Thee, and to commit
mine affairs unto Thy care. Make me, then, O my
God, content with that which the finger of Thy decree
hath traced, and the pen of Thy ordinance hath
written. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee,
and in Thy grasp are the reins of all that are in heaven

+P9
and on earth. No God is there but Thee, the All-knowing,
the All-Wise."
O &Shaykh! Know thou that neither the calumnies
which men may utter, nor their denials, nor any cavils
they may raise, can harm him that hath clung to the
cord of the grace, and seized the hem of the mercy,
of the Lord of creation. By God! He, the Glory of
God (&Baha), hath spoken not from mere impulse.
He that hath given Him a voice is He that hath given
a voice unto all things, that they may praise and
glorify Him. There is none other God but Him, the
One, the Incomparable, the Lord of strength, the
Unconditioned.
They whose sight is keen, whose ears are retentive,
whose hearts are enlightened, and whose breasts are
dilated, recognize both truth and falsehood, and distinguish
the one from the other. Recite thou this
prayer that hath flowed from the tongue of this
Wronged One, and ponder thereon with a heart rid
of all attachment, and with ears that are pure and
sanctified, be attentive to its meaning, that haply
thou mayest inhale the breath of detachment and
have pity upon thyself and upon others:
"My God, the Object of my adoration, the Goal
of my desire, the All-Bountiful, the Most Compassionate!
All life is of Thee, and all power lieth within
the grasp of Thine omnipotence. Whosoever Thou
exaltest is raised above the angels, and attaineth the
station: `Verily, We uplifted him to a place on

+P10
high!'; and whosoever Thou dost abase is made lower
than dust, nay, less than nothing. O Divine Providence!
Though wicked, sinful, and intemperate, we
still seek from Thee a `seat of truth,' and long to
behold the countenance of the Omnipotent King.
It is Thine to command, and all sovereignty belongeth
to Thee, and the realm of might boweth before Thy
behest. Everything Thou doest is pure justice, nay,
the very essence of grace. One gleam from the splendors
of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, sufficeth to
banish and blot out every trace of sinfulness from the
world, and a single breath from the breezes of the
Day of Thy Revelation is enough to adorn all mankind
with a fresh attire. Vouchsafe Thy strength,
O Almighty One, unto Thy weak creatures, and
quicken them who are as dead, that haply they may
find Thee, and may be led unto the ocean of Thy
guidance, and may remain steadfast in Thy Cause.
Should the fragrance of Thy praise be shed abroad
by any of the divers tongues of the world, out of
the East or out of the West, it would, verily, be prized
and greatly cherished. If such tongues, however, be
deprived of that fragrance, they assuredly would be
unworthy of any mention, in word or yet in thought.
We beg of Thee, O Providence, to show Thy way
unto all men, and to guide them aright. Thou art,
verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the All-Knowing,
the All-Seeing."
We beseech God to aid thee to be just and fair-minded,

+P11
and to acquaint thee with the things that
were hidden from the eyes of men. He, in truth, is
the Mighty, the Unconstrained. We ask thee to reflect
upon that which hath been revealed, and to be fair
and just in thy speech, that perchance the splendors
of the daystar of truthfulness and sincerity may
shine forth, and may deliver thee from the darkness
of ignorance, and illumine the world with the light
of knowledge. This Wronged One hath frequented
no school, neither hath He attended the controversies
of the learned. By My life! Not of Mine own volition
have I revealed Myself, but God, of His own
choosing, hath manifested Me. In the Tablet, addressed
to His Majesty the &Shah--may God, blessed
and glorified be He, assist him--these words have
streamed from the tongue of this Wronged One:
"O King! I was but a man like others, asleep upon
My couch, when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious
were wafted over Me, and taught Me the knowledge
of all that hath been. This thing is not from Me, but
from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And
He bade Me lift up My voice between earth and
heaven, and for this there befell Me what hath caused
the tears of every man of understanding to flow.
The learning current amongst men I studied not;
their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein
I dwelt, that thou mayest be well assured that I am
not of them who speak falsely. This is but a leaf
which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty,

+P12
the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still
when the tempestuous winds are blowing? Nay, by
Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes!
They move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing
before Him Who is the Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling
summons hath reached Me, and caused
Me to speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed
as one dead when His behest was uttered. The hand
of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful,
transformed Me."
Now is the moment in which to cleanse thyself
with the waters of detachment that have flowed out
from the Supreme Pen, and to ponder, wholly for the
sake of God, those things which, time and again, have
been sent down or manifested, and then to strive, as
much as lieth in thee, to quench, through the power
of wisdom and the force of thy utterance, the fire of
enmity and hatred which smouldereth in the hearts
of the peoples of the world. The Divine Messengers
have been sent down, and their Books were revealed,
for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of God,
and of furthering unity and fellowship amongst men.
But now behold, how they have made the Law of God
a cause and pretext for perversity and hatred. How
pitiful, how regrettable, that most men are cleaving
fast to, and have busied themselves with, the things
they possess, and are unaware of, and shut out as by
a veil from, the things God possesseth!
Say: "O God, my God! Attire mine head with the

+P13
crown of justice, and my temple with the ornament
of equity. Thou, verily, art the Possessor of all gifts
and bounties."
Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch
over men. From them are revealed such blessed and
perspicuous words as are the cause of the well-being
of the world and the protection of the nations.
These words have streamed from the pen of this
Wronged One in one of His Tablets: "The purpose
of the one true God, exalted be His glory, hath been
to bring forth the Mystic Gems out of the mine of
man--they Who are the Dawning-Places of His
Cause and the Repositories of the pearls of His knowledge;
for, God Himself, glorified be He, is the Unseen,
the One concealed and hidden from the eyes of men.
Consider what the Merciful hath revealed in the
&Qur'an: No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in
all vision, and He is the Subtile, the All-Informed!"
That the divers communions of the earth, and the
manifold systems of religious belief, should never be
allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among
men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of
God and His Religion. These principles and laws,
these firmly-established and mighty systems, have
proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light.
That they differ one from another is to be attributed
to the varying requirements of the ages in which they
were promulgated.
Gird up the loins of your endeavor, O people of

+P14
&Baha, that haply the tumult of religious dissension
and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth may
be stilled, that every trace of it may be completely
obliterated. For the love of God, and them that
serve Him, arise to aid this sublime and momentous
Revelation. Religious fanaticism and hatred are a
world-devouring fire, whose violence none can
quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone,
deliver mankind from this desolating affliction. Consider
the war that hath involved the two Nations,
how both sides have renounced their possessions and
their lives. How many the villages that were completely
wiped out!
The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is
these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the
leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with
the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and
fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth
Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it
can illuminate the whole earth. The One true God,
He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the
truth of these words.
Exert yourselves that ye may attain this transcendent
and most sublime station, the station that can
insure the protection and security of all mankind.
This goal excelleth every other goal, and this aspiration
is the monarch of all aspirations. So long, however,
as the thick clouds of oppression, which obscure
the daystar of justice, remain undispelled, it would

+P15
be difficult for the glory of this station to be unveiled
to men's eyes. These thick clouds are the exponents
of idle fancies and vain imaginings, who are none
other but the divines of Persia. At one time We spoke
in the language of the lawgiver; at another in that
of the truth-seeker and the mystic, and yet Our
supreme purpose and highest wish hath always been
to disclose the glory and sublimity of this station.
God, verily, is a sufficient witness!
Consort with all men, O people of &Baha, in a spirit
of friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a
certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others
are deprived, share it with them in a language of
utmost kindliness and goodwill. If it be accepted,
if it fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If
anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and
beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly
with him. A kindly tongue is the lodestone
of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it
clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain
of the light of wisdom and understanding.
By "divines" in the passage cited above is meant
those men who outwardly attire themselves with the
raiment of knowledge, but who inwardly are deprived
therefrom. In this connection, We quote from the
Tablet addressed to His Majesty the &Shah, certain
passages from the "Hidden Words" which were revealed
by the &Abha Pen under the name of the "Book
of &Fatimih," the blessings of God be upon her!

+P16
"O ye that are foolish, yet have a name to be wise!
Wherefore do ye wear the guise of the shepherd, when
inwardly ye have become wolves, intent upon My
flock? Ye are even as the star, which riseth ere the
dawn, and which, though it seem radiant and luminous,
leadeth the wayfarers of My city astray into the
paths of perdition."
And likewise He saith: "O ye seeming fair yet
inwardly foul! Ye are like clear but bitter water,
which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of
which, when tested by the Divine Assayer, not a drop
is accepted. Yea, the sunbeam falls alike upon the
dust and the mirror, yet differ they in reflection even
as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is
the difference!"
And also He saith: "O essence of desire! At many
a dawn have I turned from the realms of the Placeless
unto thine abode, and found thee on the bed of
ease busied with others than Myself. Thereupon, even
as the flash of the spirit, I returned to the realms of
celestial glory, and breathed it not in My retreats
above unto the hosts of holiness."
And again He saith: "O bond slave of the world!
Many a dawn hath the breeze of My loving-kindness
wafted over thee and found thee upon the bed of
heedlessness fast asleep. Bewailing then thy plight it
returned whence it came."
Those divines, however, who are truly adorned
with the ornament of knowledge and of a goodly

+P17
character are, verily, as a head to the body of the
world, and as eyes to the nations. The guidance of
men hath, at all times, been, and is, dependent upon
such blessed souls. We beseech God to graciously aid
them to do His will and pleasure. He, in truth, is
the Lord of all men, the Lord of this world and of the
next.
O &Shaykh! We have learned that thou hast turned
away from Us, and protested against Us, in such wise
that thou hast bidden the people to curse Me, and
decreed that the blood of the servants of God be shed.
God requite him who said: "Willingly will I obey the
judge who hath so strangely decreed that my blood
be spilt at Hill and at &Haram!" Verily I say: Whatever
befalleth in the path of God is the beloved of
the soul and the desire of the heart. Deadly poison
in His path is pure honey, and every tribulation a
draught of crystal water. In the Tablet to His
Majesty the &Shah it is written: "By Him Who is the
Truth! I fear no tribulation in His path, nor any
affliction in My love for Him. Verily God hath made
adversity as a morning dew upon His green pasture,
and a wick for His lamp which lighteth earth and
heaven."
Set thine heart towards Him Who is the Kaaba of
God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, and raise
thou thine hands with such firm conviction as shall
cause the hands of all created things to be lifted up
towards the heaven of the grace of God, the Lord of

+P18
all worlds. Turn, then, thy face towards Him in
such wise that the faces of all beings will turn in the
direction of His shining and luminous Horizon, and
say: "Thou seest me, O my Lord, with my face
turned towards the heaven of Thy bounty and the
ocean of Thy favor, withdrawn from all else beside
Thee. I ask of Thee, by the splendors of the Sun of
Thy revelation on Sinai, and the effulgences of the Orb
of Thy grace which shineth from the horizon of Thy
Name, the Ever-Forgiving, to grant me Thy pardon
and to have mercy upon me. Write down, then, for
me with Thy pen of glory that which will exalt me
through Thy Name in the world of creation. Aid
me, O my Lord, to set myself towards Thee, and to
hearken unto the voice of Thy loved ones, whom the
powers of the earth have failed to weaken, and the
dominion of the nations has been powerless to withhold
from Thee, and who, advancing towards
Thee, have said: `God is our Lord, the Lord of all who
are in heaven and all who are on earth!'"
O &Shaykh! Verily I say, the seal of the Choice
Wine hath, in the name of Him Who is the Self-Subsisting,
been broken; withhold not thyself therefrom.
This Wronged One speaketh wholly for the
sake of God; thou too shouldst, likewise, for the sake
of God, meditate upon those things that have been
sent down and manifested, that haply thou mayest,
on this blessed Day, take thy portion of the liberal
effusions of Him Who is truly the All-Bountiful, and

+P19
mayest not remain deprived thereof. This indeed
would not be hard for God. Dust-made Adam was
raised up, through the Word of God, to the heavenly
throne, and a mere fisherman was made the repository
of Divine wisdom, and &Abu-Dhar, the shepherd,
became a prince of the nations!
This Day, O &Shaykh, hath never been, nor is it
now, the Day whereon man-made arts and sciences
can be regarded as a true standard for men, since it
hath been recognized that He Who was wholly unversed
in any of them hath ascended the throne of
purest gold, and occupied the seat of honor in the
council of knowledge, whilst the acknowledged exponent
and repository of these arts and sciences
remained utterly deprived. By "arts and sciences"
is meant those which begin with words and end with
words. Such arts and sciences, however, as are
productive of good results, and bring forth their
fruit, and are conducive to the well-being and tranquility
of men have been, and will remain, acceptable
before God. Wert thou to give ear to My voice, thou
wouldst cast away all thy possessions, and wouldst set
thy face towards the Spot wherein the ocean of wisdom
and of utterance hath surged, and the sweet
savors of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, the Compassionate,
have wafted.
We deem it advisable, in this connection, to recount
briefly some past events, that perchance they
may be the means of vindicating the cause of equity

+P20
and justice. At the time when His Majesty the &Shah,
may God, his Lord, the Most Merciful, aid him
through His strengthening grace, was planning a
journey to &Isfahan, this Wronged One, having obtained
his permission, visited the holy and luminous
resting-places of the &Imams, may the blessings of God
be upon them! Upon Our return, We proceeded to
&Lavasan on account of the excessive heat prevailing
in the capital. Following Our departure, there occurred
the attempt upon the life of His Majesty, may
God, exalted and glorified be He, assist him. Those
days were troublous days, and the fires of hatred
burned high. Many were arrested, among them this
Wronged One. By the righteousness of God! We
were in no wise connected with that evil deed, and
Our innocence was indisputably established by the
tribunals. Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and
from &Niyavaran, which was then the residence of
His Majesty, conducted Us, on foot and in chains,
with bared head and bare feet, to the dungeon of
&Tihran. A brutal man, accompanying Us on horseback,
snatched off Our hat, whilst We were being
hurried along by a troop of executioners and officials.
We were consigned for four months to a place foul
beyond comparison. As to the dungeon in which this
Wronged One and others similarly wronged were
confined, a dark and narrow pit were preferable.
Upon Our arrival We were first conducted along a
pitch-black corridor, from whence We descended

+P21
three steep flights of stairs to the place of confinement
assigned to Us. The dungeon was wrapped in thick
darkness, and Our fellow prisoners numbered nearly
a hundred and fifty souls: thieves, assassins and highwaymen.
Though crowded, it had no other outlet
than the passage by which We entered. No pen can
depict that place, nor any tongue describe its loathsome
smell. Most of these men had neither clothes
nor bedding to lie on. God alone knoweth what befell
Us in that most foul-smelling and gloomy place!
Day and night, while confined in that dungeon,
We meditated upon the deeds, the condition, and the
conduct of the &Babis, wondering what could have led
a people so high-minded, so noble, and of such intelligence,
to perpetrate such an audacious and outrageous
act against the person of His Majesty. This
Wronged One, thereupon, decided to arise, after His
release from prison, and undertake, with the utmost
vigor, the task of regenerating this people.
One night, in a dream, these exalted words were
heard on every side: "Verily, We shall render Thee
victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen. Grieve Thou
not for that which hath befallen Thee, neither be
Thou afraid, for Thou art in safety. Erelong will
God raise up the treasures of the earth--men who
will aid Thee through Thyself and through Thy
Name, wherewith God hath revived the hearts of
such as have recognized Him."
And when this Wronged One went forth out of

+P22
His prison, We journeyed, in pursuance of the order
of His Majesty the &Shah--may God, exalted be He,
protect him--to &Iraq, escorted by officers in the
service of the esteemed and honored governments of
Persia and Russia. After Our arrival, We revealed,
as a copious rain, by the aid of God and His Divine
Grace and mercy, Our verses, and sent them to various
parts of the world. We exhorted all men, and particularly
this people, through Our wise counsels and
loving admonitions, and forbade them to engage in
sedition, quarrels, disputes and conflict. As a result
of this, and by the grace of God, waywardness and
folly were changed into piety and understanding,
and weapons converted into instruments of peace.
During the days I lay in the prison of &Tihran,
though the galling weight of the chains and the
stench-filled air allowed Me but little sleep, still in
those infrequent moments of slumber I felt as if something
flowed from the crown of My head over My
breast, even as a mighty torrent that precipitateth
itself upon the earth from the summit of a lofty
mountain. Every limb of My body would, as a result,
be set afire. At such moments My tongue recited
what no man could bear to hear.
We shall herewith cite a few passages from Tablets
specifically revealed to this people, so that every
one may know of a certainty that this Wronged One
hath acted in a manner which hath been pleasing and

+P23
acceptable unto men endued with insight, and unto
such as are the exponents of justice and equity:
"O ye friends of God in His cities and His loved
ones in His lands! This Wronged One enjoineth on
you honesty and piety. Blessed the city that shineth
by their light. Through them man is exalted, and
the door of security is unlocked before the face of all
creation. Happy the man that cleaveth fast unto
them, and recognizeth their virtue, and woe betide
him that denieth their station."
And in another connection these words were revealed:
"We enjoin the servants of God and His handmaidens
to be pure and to fear God, that they may
shake off the slumber of their corrupt desires, and
turn toward God, the Maker of the heavens and of
the earth. Thus have We commanded the faithful
when the Daystar of the world shone forth from the
horizon of &Iraq. My imprisonment doeth Me no
harm, neither the tribulations I suffer, nor the things
that have befallen Me at the hands of My oppressors.
That which harmeth Me is the conduct of those who,
though they bear My name, yet commit that which
maketh My heart and My pen to lament. They that
spread disorder in the land, and lay hands on the
property of others, and enter a house without leave
of its owner, We, verily, are clear of them, unless
they repent and return unto God, the Ever-Forgiving,
the Most Merciful."

+P24
And in another connection: "O peoples of the
earth! Haste ye to do the pleasure of God, and war
ye valiantly, as it behooveth you to war, for the sake
of proclaiming His resistless and immovable Cause.
We have decreed that war shall be waged in the path
of God with the armies of wisdom and utterance,
and of a goodly character and praiseworthy deeds.
Thus hath it been decided by Him Who is the All-Powerful,
the Almighty. There is no glory for him
that committeth disorder on the earth after it hath
been made so good. Fear God, O people, and be not
of them that act unjustly."
And again in another connection: "Revile ye not
one another. We, verily, have come to unite and weld
together all that dwell on earth. Unto this beareth
witness what the ocean of Mine utterance hath revealed
amongst men, and yet most of the people have
gone astray. If anyone revile you, or trouble touch
you, in the path of God, be patient, and put your
trust in Him Who heareth, Who seeth. He, in truth,
witnesseth, and perceiveth, and doeth what He pleaseth,
through the power of His sovereignty. He,
verily, is the Lord of strength, and of might. In the
Book of God, the Mighty, the Great, ye have been
forbidden to engage in contention and conflict. Lay
fast hold on whatever will profit you, and profit the
peoples of the world. Thus commandeth you the
King of Eternity, Who is manifest in His Most Great
Name. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the All-Wise."

+P25
And yet again in another connection: "Beware lest
ye shed the blood of any one. Unsheathe the sword of
your tongue from the scabbard of utterance, for
therewith ye can conquer the citadels of men's hearts.
We have abolished the law to wage holy war against
each other. God's mercy hath, verily, encompassed
all created things, if ye do but understand."
And yet again in another connection: "O people!
Spread not disorder in the land, and shed not the blood
of any one, and consume not the substance of others
wrongfully, neither follow every accursed prattler."
And still again in another connection: "The Sun
of Divine Utterance can never set, neither can its
radiance be extinguished. These sublime words have,
in this day, been heard from the Lote-Tree beyond
which there is no passing: `I belong to him that loveth
Me, that holdeth fast My commandments, and casteth
away the things forbidden him in My Book.'"
And still again in another connection: "This is the
day to make mention of God, to celebrate His praise,
and to serve Him; deprive not yourselves thereof.
Ye are the letters of the words, and the words of the
Book. Ye are the saplings which the hand of Loving-kindness
hath planted in the soil of mercy, and
which the showers of bounty have made to flourish.
He hath protected you from the mighty winds of
misbelief, and the tempestuous gales of impiety, and
nurtured you with the hands of His loving providence.
Now is the time for you to put forth your

+P26
leaves, and yield your fruit. The fruits of the tree
of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a
praiseworthy character. Withhold not these fruits
from the heedless. If they be accepted, your end is
attained, and the purpose of life achieved. If not,
leave them in their pastime of vain disputes. Strive,
O people of God, that haply the hearts of the divers
kindreds of the earth may, through the waters of your
forbearance and loving-kindness, be cleansed and
sanctified from animosity and hatred, and be made
worthy and befitting recipients of the splendors of
the Sun of Truth."
In the fourth &Ishraq (splendor) of the &Ishraqat
(Tablet of Splendors) We have mentioned: "Every
cause needeth a helper. In this Revelation the hosts
which can render it victorious are the hosts of praiseworthy
deeds and upright character. The leader and
commander of these hosts hath ever been the fear of
God, a fear that encompasseth all things, and reigneth
over all things."
In the third &Tajalli (effulgence) of the Book of
&Tajalliyat (Book of Effulgences) We have mentioned:
"Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of
being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge
is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent.
Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The
knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired
as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not
those which begin with words and end with words.

+P27
Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen
on the peoples of the world. Unto this beareth witness
the Mother Book in this conspicuous station."
In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man,
and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation,
of cheer and gladness unto him. Happy the man
that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless.
It is incumbent upon thee to summon the people,
under all conditions, to whatever will cause them to
show forth spiritual characteristics and goodly deeds,
so that all may become aware of that which is the
cause of human upliftment, and may, with the utmost
endeavor, direct themselves towards the most
sublime Station and the Pinnacle of Glory. The fear
of God hath ever been the prime factor in the education
of His creatures. Well is it with them that
have attained thereunto!
The first word which the &Abha Pen hath revealed
and inscribed on the first leaf of Paradise is this:
"Verily I say: The fear of God hath ever been a sure
defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the
world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind,
and the supreme instrument for its preservation.
Indeed, there existeth in man a faculty which
deterreth him from, and guardeth him against, whatever
is unworthy and unseemly, and which is known
as his sense of shame. This, however, is confined to
but a few; all have not possessed, and do not possess, it.
It is incumbent upon the kings and the spiritual

+P28
leaders of the world to lay fast hold on religion, inasmuch
as through it the fear of God is instilled in
all else but Him."
The second word We have recorded on the second
leaf of Paradise is the following: "The Pen of the
Divine Expounder exhorteth, at this moment, the
manifestations of authority and the sources of power,
namely the kings and rulers of the earth--may God
assist them--and enjoineth them to uphold the cause
of religion, and to cleave unto it. Religion is, verily,
the chief instrument for the establishment of order
in the world, and of tranquillity amongst its peoples.
The weakening of the pillars of religion hath
strengthened the foolish, and emboldened them, and
made them more arrogant. Verily I say: The greater
the decline of religion, the more grievous the waywardness
of the ungodly. This cannot but lead in the
end to chaos and confusion. Hear Me, O men of
insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with
discernment!"
It is Our hope that thou wilt hear with attentive
ears the things We have mentioned unto thee, that
perchance thou mayest turn men away from the
things they possess to the things that God possesseth.
We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the
sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness,
and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light
can compare with the light of justice. The establishment

+P29
of order in the world and the tranquillity of
the nations depend upon it.
In the Book of Utterance these exalted words have
been written down and recorded: "Say, O friends!
Strive that haply the tribulations suffered by this
Wronged One and by you, in the path of God, may
not prove to have been in vain. Cling ye to the hem
of virtue, and hold fast to the cord of trustworthiness
and piety. Concern yourselves with the things
that benefit mankind, and not with your corrupt and
selfish desires. O ye followers of this Wronged One!
Ye are the shepherds of mankind; liberate ye your
flocks from the wolves of evil passions and desires,
and adorn them with the ornament of the fear of
God. This is the firm commandment which hath, at
this moment, flowed out from the Pen of Him Who
is the Ancient of Days. By the righteousness of God!
The sword of a virtuous character and upright conduct
is sharper than blades of steel. The voice of the
true Faith calleth aloud, at this moment, and saith:
O people! Verily, the Day is come, and My Lord
hath made Me to shine forth with a light whose
splendor hath eclipsed the suns of utterance. Fear ye
the Merciful, and be not of them that have gone
astray."
The third word we have recorded on the third leaf
of Paradise is this: "O son of man! If thine eyes be
turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit

+P30
thee, and cleave unto that which will profit mankind.
And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose
thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for
thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of
glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the
depths of wretchedness and degradation. Great is the
Day, and mighty the Call! In one of Our Tablets
We have revealed these exalted words: `Were the
world of the spirit to be wholly converted into the
sense of hearing, it could then claim to be worthy
to hearken unto the Voice that calleth from the
Supreme Horizon; for otherwise, these ears that are
defiled with lying tales have never been, nor are they
now, fit to hear it.' Well is it with them that hearken;
and woe betide the wayward."
We pray God--exalted be His glory--and cherish
the hope that He may graciously assist the manifestations
of affluence and power and the daysprings of
sovereignty and glory, the kings of the earth--may
God aid them through His strengthening grace--to
establish the Lesser Peace. This, indeed, is the greatest
means for insuring the tranquillity of the nations.
It is incumbent upon the Sovereigns of the world--
may God assist them--unitedly to hold fast unto
this Peace, which is the chief instrument for the protection
of all mankind. It is Our hope that they will
arise to achieve what will be conducive to the well-being
of man. It is their duty to convene an all-inclusive
assembly, which either they themselves or

+P31
their ministers will attend, and to enforce whatever
measures are required to establish unity and concord
amongst men. They must put away the weapons of
war, and turn to the instruments of universal reconstruction.
Should one king rise up against another,
all the other kings must arise to deter him. Arms and
armaments will, then, be no more needed beyond
that which is necessary to insure the internal security
of their respective countries. If they attain unto this
all-surpassing blessing, the people of each nation will
pursue, with tranquillity and contentment, their own
occupations, and the groanings and lamentations of
most men would be silenced. We beseech God to aid
them to do His will and pleasure. He, verily, is the
Lord of the throne on high and of earth below, and
the Lord of this world and of the world to come. It
would be preferable and more fitting that the highly
honored kings themselves should attend such an assembly,
and proclaim their edicts. Any king who will
arise and carry out this task, he verily will, in the
sight of God, become the cynosure of all kings.
Happy is he, and great is his blessedness!
In this land, every time men are conscripted for
the army, a great terror seizeth the people. Every
nation augmenteth, each year, its forces, for their
ministers of war are insatiable in their desire to add
fresh recruits to their battalions. We have learned
that the government of Persia--may God assist them
--have, likewise decided to reinforce their army. In

+P32
the opinion of this Wronged One a force of one hundred
thousand fully-equipped and well-disciplined
men would suffice. We hope that thou wilt cause the
light of justice to shine more brightly. By the
righteousness of God! Justice is a powerful force.
It is, above all else, the conqueror of the citadels of
the hearts and souls of men, and the revealer of the
secrets of the world of being, and the standard-bearer
of love and bounty.
In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there
lieth concealed a knowledge which, when applied,
will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This
knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood,
as it will greatly aid in its elimination. Whatever
decreaseth fear increaseth courage. Should the
Will of God assist Us, there would flow out from the
Pen of the Divine Expounder a lengthy exposition of
that which hath been mentioned, and there would be
revealed, in the field of arts and sciences, what would
renew the world and the nations. A word hath, likewise,
been written down and recorded by the Pen
of the Most High in the Crimson Book which is
capable of fully disclosing that force which is hid
in men, nay of redoubling its potency. We implore
God--exalted and glorified be He--to graciously assist
His servants to do that which is pleasing and acceptable
unto Him.
In these days enemies have compassed Us about,
and the fire of hatred is kindled. O peoples of the

+P33
earth! By My life and by your own! This Wronged
One hath never had, nor hath He now any desire for
leadership. Mine aim hath ever been, and still is, to
suppress whatever is the cause of contention amidst
the peoples of the earth, and of separation amongst
the nations, so that all men may be sanctified from
every earthly attachment, and be set free to occupy
themselves with their own interests. We entreat Our
loved ones not to besmirch the hem of Our raiment
with the dust of falsehood, neither to allow references
to what they have regarded as miracles and prodigies
to debase Our rank and station, or to mar the purity
and sanctity of Our name.
Gracious God! This is the day whereon the wise
should seek the advice of this Wronged One, and ask
Him Who is the Truth what things are conducive to
the glory and tranquillity of men. And yet, all are
earnestly striving to put out this glorious and shining
light, and are diligently seeking either to establish
Our guilt, or to voice their protest against Us. Matters
have come to such a pass, that the conduct of
this Wronged One hath, in every way, been grossly
misrepresented, and in a manner which it would be
unseemly to mention. One of Our friends hath reported
that among the residents of the Great City
(Constantinople) he had heard with the greatest
regret someone state that, each year, a sum of fifty
thousand tumans was being despatched from his native
land to &Akka! It hath not, however, been made

+P34
clear who had disbursed the sum, nor through whose
hands it had passed!
Briefly, this Wronged One hath, in the face of all
that hath befallen Him at their hands, and all that
hath been said of Him, endured patiently, and held
His peace, inasmuch as it is Our purpose, through the
loving providence of God--exalted be His glory--
and His surpassing mercy, to abolish, through the
force of Our utterance, all disputes, war, and bloodshed,
from the face of the earth. Under all conditions
We have, in spite of what they have said,
endured with seemly patience, and have left them to
God. In answer to this particular imputation, however,
We have replied, that if that which he affirmeth
be true, it behooveth him to be thankful to Him Who
is the Lord of all being, and the King of the seen and
unseen, for having raised up in Persia One Who,
though a prisoner and with none to help and assist
Him, hath succeeded in establishing His ascendency
over that land, and in drawing from it a yearly revenue.
Such an achievement should be praised rather
than censured, if he be of them that judge equitably.
Should anyone seek to be acquainted with the condition
of this Wronged One, let him be told that these
captives whom the world hath persecuted and the nations
wronged have, for days and nights, been entirely
denied the barest means of subsistence. We are loth
to mention such things, neither have We had, nor
do We have now, any desire to complain against Our

+P35
accuser. Within the walls of this prison a highly
esteemed man was for some time obliged to break
stones that he might earn a living, whilst others had,
at times, to nourish themselves with that Divine sustenance
which is hunger! We entreat God--exalted
and glorified be He--to aid all men to be just and
fair-minded, and to graciously assist them to repent
and return unto Him. He, verily, heareth, and is
ready to answer.
Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou seest
what hath befallen this Wronged One at the hands
of them that have not associated with Me, and who
have arisen to harm and abase Me, in a manner which
no pen can describe, nor tongue recount, nor can any
Tablet sustain its weight. Thou hearest the cry of
Mine heart, and the groaning of Mine inmost being,
and the things that have befallen Thy trusted ones
in Thy cities and Thy chosen ones in Thy land, at
the hands of such as have broken Thy Covenant and
Thy Testament. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the
sighs of Thy lovers throughout the world, and by
their lamentation in their remoteness from the court
of Thy presence, and by the blood that hath been
shed for love of Thee, and by the hearts that have
melted in Thy path, to protect Thy loved ones from
the cruelty of such as have remained unaware of the
mysteries of Thy Name, the Unconstrained. Assist
them, O my Lord, by Thy power that hath prevailed
over all things, and aid them to be patient and long-suffering.

+P36
Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty,
the All-Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the
Generous, the Lord of grace abounding.
In these days there are some who, far from being
just and fair-minded, have assaulted Me with the
sword of hatred and the spear of enmity, forgetting
that it behooveth every fair-minded person to succor
Him Whom the world hath cast away and the nations
abandoned, and to lay hold on piety and righteousness.
Most men have until now failed to discover the
purpose of this Wronged One, nor have they known
the reason for which He hath been willing to endure
countless afflictions. Meanwhile, the voice of Mine
heart crieth out these words: "O that My people
knew!" This Wronged One, rid of attachment unto
all things, uttereth these exalted words: "Waves have
encompassed the Ark of God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting. Fear not the tempestuous gales, O
Mariner! He Who causeth the dawn to appear is,
verily, with Thee in this darkness that hath struck
terror into the hearts of all men, except such as God,
the Almighty, the Unconstrained, hath been pleased
to spare."
O &Shaykh! I swear by the Sun of Truth Which
hath risen and shineth above the horizon of this
Prison! The betterment of the world hath been the
sole aim of this Wronged One. Unto this beareth
witness every man of judgment, of discernment, of
insight and understanding. Whilst afflicted with

+P37
trials, He held fast unto the cord of patience and
fortitude, and was satisfied with the things which
have befallen Him at the hands of His enemies, and
was crying out: "I have renounced My desire for
Thy desire, O my God, and My will for the revelation
of Thy Will. By Thy glory! I desire neither Myself
nor My life except for the purpose of serving Thy
Cause, and I love not My being save that I may sacrifice
it in Thy path. Thou seest and knowest, O my
Lord, that those whom We asked to be fair and just,
have, unjustly and cruelly, risen up against Us.
Openly they were with Me, yet secretly they assisted
My foes, who have arisen to dishonor Me. O God,
my God! I testify that Thou hast created Thy servants
to aid Thy Cause and exalt Thy Word, and
yet they have helped Thine enemies. I beseech Thee,
by Thy Cause that hath encompassed the world of
being, and by Thy Name wherewith Thou hast subjected
the seen and unseen, to adorn the peoples of
the earth with the light of Thy justice, and to illuminate
their hearts with the brightness of Thy knowledge.
I am, O my Lord, Thy servant and the son of
Thy servant. I bear witness unto Thy unity, and
Thy oneness, and to the sanctity of Thy self and the
purity of Thine Essence. Thou beholdest, O my
Lord, Thy trusted ones at the mercy of the treacherous
among Thy creatures, and the calumniators
amidst Thy people. Thou knowest what hath befallen
Us at the hands of them whom Thou knowest

+P38
better than we know them. They have committed
what hath torn the veil from such of Thy creatures
as are nigh unto Thee. I beseech Thee to assist them
to obtain that which hath escaped them in the days
of the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the
Dayspring of Thine Inspiration. Potent art Thou
to do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp are the
reins of all that is in heaven and all that is on earth."
The voice and the lamentation of the true Faith have
been raised. It calleth aloud and saith: "O people!
By the righteousness of God! I have attained unto
Him Who hath manifested me and sent me down.
This is the Day whereon Sinai hath smiled at Him
Who conversed upon it, and Carmel at its Revealer,
and the Sadrah at Him Who taught it. Fear ye God,
and be not of them that have denied Him. Withhold
not yourselves from that which hath been revealed
through His grace. Seize ye the living waters of immortality
in the name of your Lord, the Lord of all
names, and drink ye in the remembrance of Him,
Who is the Mighty, the Peerless."
We have, under all circumstances, enjoined on men
what is right, and forbidden what is wrong. He Who
is the Lord of Being is witness that this Wronged One
hath besought from God for His creatures whatever
is conducive to unity and harmony, fellowship and
concord. By the righteousness of God! This Wronged
One is not capable of dissimulation. He, verily, hath
revealed that which He desired; He, truly, is the Lord
of strength, the Unrestrained.

+P39
We once again refer unto some of the sublime words
revealed in the Tablet to His Majesty the &Shah, so
that thou mayest know of a certainty that whatever
hath been mentioned hath come from God: "O King!
I was but a man like others, asleep upon My couch,
when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted
over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of all that
hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from
One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And He
bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven,
and for this there befell Me what hath caused the
tears of every man of understanding to flow. The
learning current amongst men I studied not; their
schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I
dwelt, that thou mayest be well assured that I am
not of them who speak falsely. This is but a leaf
which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty,
the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still
when the tempestuous winds are blowing? Nay, by
Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes!
They move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing
before Him Who is the Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling
summons hath reached Me, and caused
Me to speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed
as one dead when His behest was uttered. The
hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate,
the Merciful, transformed Me. Can anyone speak
forth of his own accord that for which all men, both
high and low, will protest against him? Nay, by Him
Who taught the Pen the eternal mysteries, save him

+P40
whom the grace of the Almighty, the All-Powerful,
hath strengthened.
"Look upon this Wronged One, O King, with the
eyes of justice; judge thou, then, with truth concerning
what hath befallen Him. Of a verity, God
hath made thee His shadow amongst men, and the
sign of His power unto all that dwell on earth. Judge
thou between Us and them that have wronged Us
without proof and without an enlightening Book.
They that surround thee love thee for their own
sakes, whereas this Youth loveth thee for thine own
sake, and hath had no desire except to draw thee
nigh unto the seat of grace, and to turn thee toward
the right-hand of justice. Thy Lord beareth witness
unto that which I declare.
"O King! Wert thou to incline thine ears unto the
shrill voice of the Pen of Glory and the cooing of the
Dove of Eternity, which on the branches of the Lote-Tree
beyond which there is no passing, uttereth
praises to God, the Maker of all Names and the
Creator of earth and heaven, thou wouldst attain
unto a station from which thou wouldst behold in
the world of being naught save the effulgence of the
Adored One, and wouldst regard thy sovereignty as
the most contemptible of thy possessions, abandoning
it to whosoever might desire it, and setting thy face
toward the Horizon aglow with the light of His
countenance. Neither wouldst thou ever be willing
to bear the burden of dominion save for the purpose

+P41
of helping thy Lord, the Exalted, the Most High.
Then would the Concourse on high bless thee. O how
excellent is this most sublime station, couldst thou
ascend thereunto through the power of a sovereignty
recognized as derived from the Name of God!"
Either thou or someone else hath said: "Let the
&Surih of &Tawhid be translated, so that all may know
and be fully persuaded that the one true God begetteth
not, nor is He begotten. Moreover, the &Babis
believe in his (&Baha'u'llah's) Divinity and Godhood."
O &Shaykh! This station is the station in which
one dieth to himself and liveth in God. Divinity,
whenever I mention it, indicateth My complete and
absolute self-effacement. This is the station in which
I have no control over mine own weal or woe nor
over my life nor over my resurrection.
O &Shaykh! How do the divines of this age account
for the effulgent glory which the Sadrah of Utterance
hath shed upon the Son of &Imran (Moses) on the
Sinai of Divine knowledge? He (Moses) hearkened
unto the Word which the Burning Bush had uttered,
and accepted it; and yet most men are bereft of the
power of comprehending this, inasmuch as they have
busied themselves with their own concerns, and are
unaware of the things which belong unto God. Referring
to this, the Siyyid of Findirisk hath well said:
"This theme no mortal mind can fathom; be it even
that of &Abu-Nasr, or &Abu-'Ali &Sina (Avicenna)."
What explanation can they give concerning that

+P42
which the Seal of the Prophets (&Muhammad)--may
the souls of all else but Him be offered up for His
sake--hath said?: "Ye, verily, shall behold your Lord
as ye behold the full moon on its fourteenth night."
The Commander of the Faithful (&Imam &Ali)--peace
be upon him--moreover, saith in the &Khutbiy-i-Tutunjiyyih:
"Anticipate ye the Revelation of Him
Who conversed with Moses from the Burning Bush
on Sinai." &Husayn, the son of &Ali--peace be upon
him--likewise saith: "Will there be vouchsafed unto
anyone besides Thee a Revelation which hath not
been vouchsafed unto Thyself--A Revelation Whose
Revealer will be He Who revealed Thee. Blind be
the eye that seeth Thee not!"
Similar sayings from the &Imams--the blessings of
God be upon them--have been recorded and are
widely known, and are embodied in books worthy
of credence. Blessed is he that perceiveth, and speaketh
the pure truth. Well is it with him who, aided
by the living waters of the utterance of Him Who
is the Desire of all men, hath purified himself from
idle fancies and vain imaginings, and torn away, in
the name of the All-Possessing, the Most High, the
veils of doubt, and renounced the world and all that
is therein, and directed himself towards the Most
Great Prison.
O &Shaykh! No breeze can compare with the
breezes of Divine Revelation, whilst the Word which
is uttered by God shineth and flasheth as the sun

+P43
amidst the books of men. Happy the man that hath
discovered it, and recognized it, and said: "Praised
be Thou, Who art the Desire of the world, and thanks
be to Thee, O Well-Beloved of the hearts of such
as are devoted to Thee!"
Men have failed to perceive Our purpose in the
references We have made to Divinity and Godhood.
Were they to apprehend it, they would arise from
their places, and cry out: "We, verily, ask pardon of
God!" The Seal of the Prophets--may the souls of
all else but Him be offered up for His sake--saith:
"Manifold are Our relationships with God. At one
time, We are He Himself, and He is We Ourself.
At another He is that He is, and We are that We are."
Aside from this, why is it that thou didst not
mention those other stations which the &Abha Pen
hath disclosed? The tongue of this Wronged One
hath, many a day and night, given utterance to these
sublime words: "O God, my God! I bear witness to
Thy unity and Thy oneness, and that Thou art God,
and that there is none other God but Thee. Thou
hast everlastingly been sanctified above the mention
of any one but Thee and the praise of all else except
Thyself, and Thou wilt everlastingly continue to be
the same as Thou wast from the beginning and hast
ever been. I beseech Thee, O King of Eternity, by
the Most Great Name, and by the effulgences of the
Daystar of Thy Revelation upon the Sinai of Utterance,
and by the billows of the Ocean of Thy knowledge

+P44
among all created things, to graciously assist Me
in that which will draw Me nigh unto Thee, and
will detach Me from all except Thee. By Thy glory,
O Lord of all being, and the Desire of all creation!
I would love to lay My face upon every single spot
of Thine earth, that perchance it might be honored
by touching a spot ennobled by the footsteps of Thy
loved ones!"
By the righteousness of God! Idle fancies have
debarred men from the Horizon of Certitude, and
vain imaginings withheld them from the Choice
Sealed Wine. In truth I say, and for the sake of God
I declare: This Servant, this Wronged One, is abashed
to claim for Himself any existence whatever, how
much more